subviral

American

[suhb-vahy-ruhl] / sʌbˈvaɪ rəl /

adjective

Microbiology.

of or relating to any macromolecule smaller in size or possessing a lesser degree of organization than a comparable intact viral particle.
of or relating to a component or precursor particle of an intact infective virus.

subviral British

/ sʌbˈvaɪrəl /

adjective

of, caused by, or denoting a part of the structure of a virus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of subviral

First recorded in 1960–65; sub- + viral

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Another potential threat is a subviral particle that combines with the hepatitis-B virus to cause more severe infections and liver cancer.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023